Workshop August 17 - 20, 2014, Centro Monte Verità, TI, Switzerland

Microresonator Frequency Combs and Applications

Optical frequency combs have revolutionized optical frequency metrology in the last decade and have lead to the development of atomic clocks. In addition frequency combs have found applications in spectroscopy, LIDAR, astronomy and sensing. Over the last years a new class of optical frequency comb generators has been emerged, which relies on parametric frequency conversion in optical micro resonators. This new technology has rapidly evolved and matured. Today, mcroresonators combs have been demonstrated in a wide variety of platform including MgF2, silica chip-scale resonators, Diamond, AlN or SiN planar micro resonators.In addition similar Physics has been recently discovered in QCL lasers. Using this platforms Kerr combs have been generated in the telecommunication window, the visible spectral range as well as the mid IR. In addition several proof of concept demonstration  including miniature atomic clocks, telecommunications, coherent data transmission, as well as optical arbitrary waveform generation. The physics of the Kerr frequency comb generation mechanism has been understood and regimes found in which temporal dissipative solitons can be generated, thereby uniting the time and frequency domain. This workshop brings together the international groups that work in this new domain at the intersection of frequency metrology and nanophotonics. It will combine groups from different fields to discuss the latest developments and future challenges of this technology in the scenic and impressive setting of Monte Verita.

Organizer:

Tobias J. Kippenberg, EPFL